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Updated: May 23, 2026
An Objective and Child-friendly Assessment of Arm Function by Using a 3-D Sensor
Published on: February 12, 2018
Poor sensitivity of musculoskeletal history in children
Iain Goff1, Amy Rowan, Belinda Jane Bateman
1Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Rheumatology, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. iain.goff@ncl.ac.uk
Objectives:
To demonstrate the sensitivity of musculoskeletal (MSK) history taking.
Design:
Prospective study: consecutive children attending outpatient clinics.
Setting And Patients:
Paediatric rheumatology clinic (n=45; girls n=28; median age 12 years, range 3-18), acute general paediatric assessment unit (n=50; girls n=21; median age 8 years, range 3-16).
Intervention:
Pro forma recording abnormal joint involvement from history taking and then following MSK examination completed by clinicians.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sensitivity of MSK history taking compared with clinical examination.
Results:
Paediatric rheumatology clinic: 135 abnormal joints identified in 34 children; 53/135 (39%) by history alone, 82/135 (61%) detected on examination resulting in MSK history sensitivity 53%, specificity 98%. Acute paediatric unit: 29 abnormal joints identified in 17 children; 18/29 identified on history (sensitivity 62%).
Conclusions:
MSK history taking failed to identify a large number of abnormal joints which were detected on physical examination, emphasising the need for all joints to be examined as part of a screening examination as a minimum.
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